CHICO -- Cal State LA's men's basketball team opened 2026 with a frustrating California Collegiate Athletic Association decision at Chico State.

The Golden Eagles led by as many as 16 points in the first half, trailed by as many as eight in the second and then saw the Wildcats score the final four points of the game to pull out a 70-69 victory in Art Acker Gym. Cal State LA (3-8, 2-3 CCAA) dropped its second straight game after holding double-digit leads in both, while Chico State (5-5, 3-2 CCAA) pulled into a five-way tie for second in a tightly-packed conference race.

Isaiah Fields had a team-high 20 points, three rebounds and three steals to lead three Golden Eagles in double figures. Deraje Agbaosi had 17 points and eight rebounds, while Michael Pearson Jr. had 12 points and six assists.

Jeremiah Dargan had a g;ame-high 23 points and four assists for Chico State, while Chris Holley had 13 points and six rebounds and Cortevious Taylor had 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Donovan Vickers had nine points and eight rebounds for the Golden Eagles, while Khemanni Davis had five points and five rebounds.

Cal State LA shot 47.5 percent (28-of-59) for the game and was 8-of-23 from 3-point range. The Golden Eagles were 5-of-7 from the free-throw line. Chico State shot 42.4 percent (28-of-66) and was 9-of-27 from 3-point range. The Wildcats were 5-of-6 from the free-throw line. Chico State had a 40-28 rebounding edge and committed 12 turnovers to 11 for the Golden Eagles.

The Golden Eagles got off to an outstanding start, going on a 17-3 run to stretch an 18-16 lead to a 35-19 advantage after a basket by Connor Scales with 7:34 left in the first half. Chico State closed the gap to three points later in the half and Cal State LA settled for a 45-38 halftime lead after a late basket by Jordan Hansen.

Cal State LA opened the second half with a basket by Agbaosi to take a 47-38 lead, but Chico State went on a 24-7 run to take an eight-point lead at 62-54 with 8:26 remaining.

The Golden Eagles, though, responded with an 8-0 run on a 3-pointer and basket by Fields and a 3-pointer by Davis to tie it at 64-64 with 3:47 to go. A 3-pointer by Pearson Jr. gave the Golden Eagles a 67-66 lead with 1:36 remaining and a basket by Fields gave the Golden Eagles a 69-66 lead with 53 seconds to go. The Golden Eagles then got a defensive stop, only to see Chico State get a steal and layup to cut the deficit to one point and, after a missed free throw, the Wildcats got the go-ahead basket with nine seconds to go. A last-second shot by the Golden Eagles wouldn't fall and Chico State secured the win.

Cal State LA will return to action on Sunday with a road game at Cal Poly Humboldt.